Band of Rain: Journal

You know sometimes I really wonder at myself...wvwn I don't know where i have been for the last couple of months...but I have got my head together now.
BOR lives again and we are all happy about that.We have a great band and brand new songs coming along, as well as looking to get in to rehearsing a lot sooner than we thought.
I am trying to find the time to get some new photos of myself and Andy but ...well you know?
I am spending every spare moment in the studio and hopefully what comes out will form the basisi of our new music.
Thanks for reading this
Byee
CG

Well got a new line up and working on new music.Things seem to be going well.
I wish I could find a little more time!
Well chuffed with the people in the band, I think this will be something special!
CG

Hi
After a lot of soul searching, I felt it was time to close down band of Rain. I need to move on personally, and while I have enjoyed what we achieved, I need to start again and with all new music.The only way I could get closure was to do this.
I am looking forward to getting back in to the studio again, and will bedoing that sa soon as the dust settles.
Keep you all posted as soon as I figure out what to do next!
CG

Those of you who have been keeping track of the ever changing situation, may not be too suprised to hear that the band has split up again...
Graham jumpaed ship first followed one by one by the rest. We had done a couple of gigs at least this time.
I find myself alone agin, though Sharon will probably be back to do some more vocals later.
I am goin to go it alone for a little while, and concentrate on getting the 4th album out by mid 2008...I will probably play all the instruments myself, as I did on the first 2...
If the next album comes out ok then I will see about putting a band together again to go out and play it live, right now though I am taking a bit of time off. Adios for now
Cg

At last we are playing live. Kinda like the last bit of the puzzle coming together.

We have done 2 gigs now, and they actually went very well, we had 2 encores at The Peel in London which was our first gig, and it really got us in to it.

The drummer has proven to be a very nice guy as well as a great drummer. The rest of the band did their bit and we all enjoyed it very much.

I am still wrestling with my gear specially the pedal as I keep making adjustments all the while and I should just leave it alone.

Started to use a Wolf guitar that I bought off Graham, its great but I prefer my Yam SG 2000 S. Its gone off to be repaired and hopefully it will be back with me for the Classic Rock Society gig on Nov 24th.

Bumped in to Tim Walker at The Tamworth gig, it was great to see him again.
My good mate Steve Palmer and Amanda came to see us at The Waterfront...he's such a great guy and very prolific at the moment. I will be doing some vocals for Steve on his upcoming album 1967 and a half. 60's music with a twist, really looking forward to doing that.

Looking to get some more T shirt designs done soon.

Poor old Sharon moved here to Wales but has had to move back to Suffolk...its a shame it would have been great to be able to work more closely on new stuff with her.

Went up to the peenines for a week got back Saturday, had a great time up there really chilled out.

Got 3 days coming up again soon, but thety are reserved for dentistry as much as fun hehe...

Well better go, would be great to see some of you at a live gig, please come and say HI...I know there are quite a few of you that read this!

Take care

CG

Had a great audition yesterday with our new drummer Andy .
He fitted in right away and I couldn't be more chuffed.
I really dont think this guy will let us down.
We really can get on with things now. Do you realise I have been putting a live band together for over 2 years now!
We are changing the set list slightly as well as writing new stuff. We have put 2 new songs in to the set list that no one has heard yet.
Anyway gotta gfo just wanted to note down about the new drummer, if he sticks with it, I think you will like him a lot
CG

Yes another month has gone by so we must need a new drummer he he..
John has left us, after a really great rehearsal on Saturday.
Well good luck John and thanks.

Extremely pleased with the way everything else is going...

I still cant decide whether to use my Korg AX 1500 pedal or just the Marshall footswitch?
I just seem to get so much feedback all the time with the Korg.
It has to be me as everyone else seems to get on ok with em.
I was delighted today to find that we will be headlining the gig at The Peel with the great Crimson Sky in support.
If you can make it, it will be a great night.Nov 3rd Kingston on Thames.

CG

Right
we have all had holidays etc, so its time to get back to it.We are about to go in to the last round of rehearsals before we go live and I can't wait!
I have been polishing my guitar quite a lot lateley and hoping for more now at last we are back together again.
The floods have subsided (we personally got off very lightly) and all the local farmers are getting the winter feed in.
Even the sheep look a little more cheerful!
Bye Bye for now
CG

All going well so far!
John the drummer has proven to be a great drummer and a nice guy to boot.Rehearsals are going ok I just wish we could have more of them. But we all need a holiday so...
Started getting gigs now, that feels good, just agonising over the set list, there are over 40 songs including the new stuff coming thru, and we dont have enough time on stage to be able to do half of them!
We have survived the drenching so far, though we are completely surrounded by floods.

Finally spent some time in the village hall with my gear and managed to turn it all up full blast, and get my sound to a point where I was happy with it.

I would really love to get back in to the studio. I feel very creative right now, but just dont have the time! Time! its a bugger, where can I get more of it?

CG

Well another audition on Saturday for a drummer. I feel very positive about this guy but thats all I'm saying or it will be the kiss of death...
I am so happy that the 3rd album is out at last. We are on i tunes at last with it too.
Its going down well so that is good.
We have parted company with Richard on keyboards. He is very good etc that was not the problem, it was the fact that there was no room for the 3 of us within the music, so we are going to have to re arrange some of the songs slightly for live, but thats ok they will remain true.
Been shutting myself away a lot lately trying to get a new and interesting sound on my guitar, but its hard to keep doing as your ears get tired and the best way to tell the difference between the sound you had and the one you are moving to, is to go away and come back later.
I have more or less ditched my effects pedal now, and will be going stright in to a Marshall 100watt, its got some great tones on it, and built in effects.I am going to try to play guitar without using mega effects. Nothing wrong with those that do...but thought it would be nice to back to how I started out.
I love using my yamaha sg2000 still, but the frets are seriously wearing now and will need a re fret soon, or I may hang her up and get a new one.
I have an Aria Paul jobby that is actually very good indeed it reaaly suprised the shit out of me!
I also like the look of some of the Schecters...they are really turning out some superb guitars.
Anyway bla bla
Catch you later
CG

Hi everyone! We are on a roll, Chris and i have ideas popping out everywhere, We are working on the fourth album, entitled 'THE CRAFT'. Going to be some great collaborations on this one, will let you know as soon as things transpire. Arts and Allurements has been well recieved, you can check out a review by Duncan Glenday (Sea Of Tranquility) on our Reviews/interviews link. Bor T'shirts are going fast, so for those of you who haven't already ordered one, well what are you waiting for BUY ONE!
Want to say a big thanks to all of you who have stuck by us, in the rough and the smooth, your loyalty is much appreciated. XXX
Live band is coming together, sounds awesome.
LETS ROCK!
Sharon.xx

We are getting through rehearsals ok, in fact the last one we had went great we are actually going through the set list ok...sure theres a few teething problems but.

My biggest problem at the moment is trying to get a drummer that will go the distance. We got a guy coming along to the next one who at last I think is going to do it. BUT..thats all Im saying right now as everytime I open my gob something goes wrong know what I mean??
Sharon and I have already got one song finished for the new album, and I am in the middle of putting together a second called "Grey Mary"
It is going to be spooky ...the other one we have finished is called "The Tower of Sin".
It is going to be a very ethereal album, can't wait I love ethereal.
I have also been getting tons of feedback at rehearsals from my gear..it has been doing my head in because I thought it was due to my incompetence (hard to believe :- O )
but thanks to Sharon, I found out that it is due to the windings on the pick ups.
That means that I have another excuse to give to the Mrs that I need a new guitar hee hee I want a twin neck 6 string and 12....I think I can swing it now.
Thanks oh loyal readers....thanks for being there.
Keep yer posted.

CG

Well, today is a proud moment for me.We have a big fan in Virginia USA who has started a fan site dedicated to Band of Rain.Her name is Angelita and I am so grateful to her.

I only wish my Dad were here to see it...he died just before I finished the 1st album so he never got to see all this....he bought me my first guitar too, thanks Dad.

There is a link to the fan site at the top of the links page if wanna go look.

We have Graham Elks back on board again. He is a great guitarist and I look forward very much to working with him again.

We ahd a great time at the radio station they are really nice people.

The 3rd CD is out at last it is such a feeling of closure, now I truly feel that I can move on.

We got a well hard rehearsal place...well chuffed with it.

Meeting a lot of great people on my space.

Got to go get you later
C.G.

At last the 3rd CD is out and available. We also have a few gigs lined up but more about that soon.
It has been a long while this 3rd CD but it will have been worth it.
We had a great time at rock 247 on line yesterday . They made us feel very much at home...
CG

Well what a difference a few weeks makes. Now we got a great new live band, the 3rd CD is going to be out at last.
We will be launching it on rock247online radio Sunday 6th of May from 2PM GMT.
We will be giving away t shirts and stuff too.

Mooch (Steve Palmer) sent me a good mix of the song I sang the main vocals on, for his upcoming album. I have to say it sounds really good..he has done a great job of making my voice work.
Looking forward to hearing the whole album...I'll keep you posted.

Yipee

CG

Oh yeah happy St Georges day!

Ah Easter
already eaten too much chocolate.
I have been away for a bit doing a few bits and pieces....but one of them is doing some work for Mooch (Steve Palmer) who is a virtual neighbour to me which is great!
Steve is a great composer and musician as well as a Science Fiction writer.Therefore his lyrics are always very interesting.
Now as you probably know I am not known for my voice...but that is waht he wanted me to do. I did some backing vocals on the one song, which is a great song...and the main vocal on a song about Jupiter which is a great song and at 16 minutes or so, a long one but it rocks!
I am really happy to have been part of this album along with quite a few others but I will tell yopu more about it as and when it becomes available...but I think it will be a must have especially if you like Concept albums and or Space rock!
Third album still isn't out but I am assured it will be out any day now so fingers crossed.
CG

I have started work on the 4th album and am calling it : The Craft.
I don't know why but I get some very positive vibes about the idea of it, and the picture that forms the front cover. If you want to take a look please go to the gallery page and scroll down you will find it there.
CG

I did feel some time ago that the band I was putting together would collapse like a house of cards.
The main reason is that everybody is really busy with side projects. Billy for example is starting up his own digital studios in Norfolk, as well as being Hawkwinds head Tech. Don't leave a lot of time. Problem is that when you are a pro as Billy is, you have to keep the money coming in, and thats what he does to put the food on the table.
Sharon, well Sharon is staying on as is.
The distances of course were always going to be a problem. Because we were so far apart it meant that rehersals were very expensive petrol wise, but also in order to make it worthwhile I had to go to Norfolk for a whole weekend at a time...and of course not everybody had all weekend to do it.
I have therefore in my infinite wisdom decided to put a band together that is local to me, so we can rehearse on a regular basis and get to know each iother well, spiritually and musically.
I have already got the ball rolling on this and rehearsals strat this Saturday night 24 March.
Still waiting for the 3rd album to come out.
Catch you later

CG

I put some songs on to the listen page today for free downloads. I lost the original recordings so cannot re mix or anything. I hope that some body takes a listen and enjoys them.

Been playing my guitar a lot lately and I am getting very sore fingers, its the only way though!

Still waitin for the 3rd album to come out, should not be long now

CG

I can't help myself you know...I feel the need to make music all the time. I have made a start on the 4th album, and have designed an album cover for it.
I always find that helps me to keep the mood going.

First track is almost recorded at the moment it is called "Tower of Sin"

I love texture, and there are some very strange textures in this song.

In fact the start always makes me think of the film contact with Jodie Foster...you know the bit where she is in that machine, and she is shouting " I'm OK to go..." Well that is where i go with this song.(in my head)
It is almost ready to give to Sharon so she can work her magic upon it.
Eating a hell of a lot of chocolate at the moment, wonder why that is, maybe cause I stopped smoking, it is killing me either way jeeez

I have been working with Mooch a lot lately which is great.
Steve has mastered some of my earlier recordings, and I will probably put some on here as free downloads in the near future.
There is some other news there too but that will have to wait.
Survived the snow...beautiful though wasn't it?

CG